Two practical related papers to #198 – Exploiting Term Structure of VIX Futures
#198 – Exploiting Term Structure of VIX Futures
Authors: Donninger
Title: Selling Volatility Insurance: The Sidre- and Most-Strategy
Link: http://www.godotfinance.com/pdf/VIXFuturesTrading_Rev1.pdf
Abstract:
This working-paper examines and improves a VIX-Futures calendar-spread strategy proposed in the literature. The strategy relies on the typical term-structure of VIX-futures. Additionally a naked short-selling strategy is considered. The strategies have similar characteristics to selling Puts on the S&P-500. There is some risk, but also a lot of fun. The strategies are an interesting alternative investment-vehicle to boost the performance of a fund.
and …
Authors: Donninger
Title: VIX Futures Basis Trading: The Calvados-Strategy 2.0
Link: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2379985
Abstract:
I developed in a previous working paper the Sidre and Most-Strategy. The strategy relies on the typical termstructure of VIX futures. The Calvados is a refined and condensed version of these strategies. The starting point was a paper of Simon and Campasano. The authors demonstrate that the VIX futures basis does not have significant forecast power for the change in the VIX spot index, but does have forecast power for subsequent VIX futures returns. It is especially profitable to short VIX futures contracts when the basis is in contango. The original Calvados working paper presented improved metrics and parameter settings of the Simon&Campasano approach. The current working paper improves the original work in several points and extends the historic backtest. The overall patterns of the original results are reassured and improved upon. The Calvados is traded in the Sybil-Fund. It is so far the pick of the bunch. One gets a lot of fun for a medium dose of risk.
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